System and method for instructing personnel on washroom maintenance requirements

ABSTRACT

A system and associated method are provided for maintenance of a plurality of washroom facilities by maintenance personnel, wherein each of the washroom facilities has one or more consumable product dispensers that require periodic refill. For each of the washroom facilities, the product dispensers are configured with a sensor that detects a product level or amount condition of the product dispenser, the sensors in communication with a monitoring station assigned to the washroom facility. A set of instructions unique to each of the washroom facilities is generated based upon the detected product level or amount conditions of the dispensers in the respective washroom facility, the set of instructions including instructions as to the amount of product refill to be added to the dispensers. With an identification (ID) system configured within each washroom facility, maintenance personnel that enter the washroom facility are identified and provided with the unique set of instructions in a message via a mobile smart device carried by the maintenance personnel or an audio or visual display device within the washroom facility.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Divisional Application of U.S. applicationSer. No. 15/560,198, filed Sep. 21, 2017, which claims priority toPCT/US2015/023312, filed Mar. 30, 2015.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to public or semi-privatewashrooms, such as public restrooms, wherein maintenance personnel areprovided instructions generated as a function of actual requirements orconditions specific to individual washrooms.

BACKGROUND

With respect to typical workplace washroom facilities, such as thosefacilities in a manufacturing plant, health care facility, officebuilding, and the like, maintenance of the facilities is generallyassigned to a maintenance team member that visits the facility on ascheduled or periodic basis to refill dispensers and ensure thecleanliness of the facility. The same person or persons may be assignedresponsibility for a multitude of washroom facilities within building orbusiness site.

In general, the maintenance person has little to no knowledge of thecondition of the facility, especially the fullness state of thedispensers, until actually entering the facility. In this regard, themaintenance person must be prepared for completely empty states of thedispensers in the various facilities they are responsible for. Therefill supplies are generally not stocked in the washroom facilities,and the maintenance person must carry sufficient refill supplies for a“worst case scenario”, which can be an overly burdensome task dependingon the number of facilities and types of dispensers.

It has also been found that significant product wastage can beattributed to certain maintenance practices. For example, a toweldispenser may be one-third full when checked by a maintenance person. Itis a common practice, however, to attempt to overstuff the dispenserwith a full refill during a scheduled maintenance visit. Thisoverstuffed condition often results in jamming of the dispenser oroveruse of towels by the washroom patrons, for example when multipletowels are dispensed as a result of the overstuffed condition. If thedispenser has an overstuff-prevention device, it is also a practice todiscard the remaining towels in the dispenser to that a new, full,refill can be loaded into the dispenser. Over time, such wastage can bequite expensive for the building proprietor.

The industry would benefit from a system and method wherein maintenancepersonnel are provided with specific instructions regarding theconditions and requirements of a particular washroom facility uponentering the respective facility that reduce the amount of wastagegenerated with conventional practices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in thefollowing description, or may be obvious from the description, or may belearned through practice of the invention.

A method and associated washroom system are presented incorporatingaspects of the invention. The term “washroom” is used generically hereinto encompass any manner of public, semi-public, or private facilityvisited by patrons to use sink or toilet facilities, bathing facilities,changing facilities, and so forth. Such facilities are also known asrestrooms, toilet closets, public bathrooms, men's room, ladies' room,and the like. A typical public or semi-private washroom has a number oftoilet facilities or urinals and sinks.

Although the present method and washroom system are particularly usefulin an “away-from-home” public or semi-private environment, the system isnot limited by scope of use. As used herein, the term “away-from-home”means a place or location where people congregate for various reasons orpurposes that are outside the typical home. Examples of away-from-homelocations include places of business, such as office buildings, officesuites, retail stores, and warehouses, manufacturing facilities;schools; hospitals and other types of medical facilities; places ofworship; hotels and motels; conference centers; and the like. The methodand system are particularly well-suited for structures wherein multiplewashroom facilities are provided for use of the building tenants or anindustrial or manufacturing site wherein multiple site facilities areprovided for a controlled populace. It should be appreciated though thatthe present washroom system and method may prove useful in a residentialor private environment, and such uses are within the scope and spirit ofthe invention.

In accordance with aspects of the invention, a system and related methodare provided for maintenance of a plurality of washroom facilities bymaintenance personnel. Such maintenance personnel may be members of ajanitorial service that has responsibility for upkeep, restocking, andcleanliness of the washroom facilities on a daily basis, or members of abuilding support staff, and so forth. Each of the washroom facilitieshas one or more consumable product dispensers that require periodicrefill, such as paper product dispensers, soap dispensers, toilet tissuedispensers, and so forth. Within each washroom facility, the productdispensers are configured with a sensor that detects a level or amountcondition of the product in the dispenser. The sensors are incommunication with a monitoring station assigned to the washroomfacility, wherein the monitoring station collects usage data related tothe various dispensers. The monitoring station may include any manner ofcomputer systems for this purpose, and may be in communication with thesensors via a wired or wireless communication network. A set ofinstructions are generated that are unique to each of the washroomfacilities based upon the detected product level or amount conditions ofthe dispensers in the respective washroom facility. The set ofinstructions includes instructions to maintenance personnel as to theamount of product refill to be added to the dispensers. Anidentification (ID) system is configured within each washroom facilityfor identifying a maintenance personnel that enters the washroomfacility, wherein the maintenance personnel is then provided with theunique set of instructions in a message. In a particular embodiment,this message is delivered via a mobile smart device (e.g., a “smartphone”) carried by the maintenance personnel.

In an alternative embodiment, the message is delivered via an audio orvisual broadcast device within the washroom facility. The broadcastdevice may be any one or combination of an audio device, video device,or audio-video device. For example, the broadcast device may be anaudio-video screen that displays the unique instructions and message inaudio and visual format. In one embodiment, multiple such devices arelocated throughout the washroom facility and are operatively linked to acommon receiver such that the multiple devices display generally thesame instructions or message.

In one embodiment, the washroom facility comprises a plurality ofindividual functional locations, such as a plurality of toilet stalls ormultiple sinks, with each of the functional locations having arespective receiver and associated broadcast device.

In a particular embodiment, the maintenance personnel is identified byname in the message provided with the set of instructions. Thispersonalization aspect may facilitate an enhanced sense of pride on thepart of the maintenance personnel, as well as provide an accountabilitycomponent to the system and method.

A plurality of the washroom facilities may be assigned to a commonmonitoring station. For example, all of the washroom facilities within abuilding or site location may communicate with the same monitoringstation via a suitable wired or wireless communication network. Themonitoring station may be interfaced with a server system for carryingout the functions described herein. The server system may be a remotesystem that functions with a plurality of the monitoring stations, ormay be a dedicated system for each washroom facility. With thisembodiment, the ID system may include an ID signal transmitter carriedby each of the maintenance personnel that generates an ID signal that isunique to the maintenance personnel. The washroom facilities are eachconfigured with a receiver that receives the ID signals from the IDsignal transmitters and transmits the ID signals to a controller that isin communication with the server system. The transmissions to the serversystem also identify the particular washroom facility.

The server system maintains a file on each of the washroom facilities,wherein conditions or requirements specific to the washroom facilitiesare determined by input from the monitoring station associated with thewashroom facility and entered into the files on a periodic basis. Theserver system accesses the files and uses the information specific toeach washroom facility to generate the unique set of instructions foreach facility.

The set of instructions may vary widely within their scope of content.In one embodiment, the instructions may relate to the fill status of thevarious dispensers in the washroom facility, and may instruct themaintenance personnel as to how much product to refill in a particulardispenser, or not to refill a particular dispenser, and so forth. Inother embodiments, the instructions may include reference to complaintsor other conditions that were logged or otherwise entered into theserver system. For example, events or activities in the building thatmay affect future washroom usage may be automatically or manuallyentered into the server system from any source, such as from anelectronic schedule or calendar maintained by the building supervisor.The unique set of instructions may inform the maintenance personnel ofsuch upcoming events that may increase usage of the washroom facility.For example, the instructions may include dispenser refill instructionsbased on an anticipated usage of the washroom before a next scheduledvisit by the maintenance personnel.

In another embodiment, the method and system may include providing tothe maintenance personnel a message at a beginning of their work shiftregarding expected product refill requirements of the washroomfacilities assigned to the maintenance personnel based on currentconditions or requirements contained in the washroom facility files,including historical product usage data. In this manner, the maintenancepersonnel can accurately load their cart with the required refillproducts, and need not carry excess product.

In particular embodiments of the system, the ID signal transmitterscarried by the maintenance personnel are Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE)beacons that emit a unique BTLE ID signal, and the server systemmaintains a library of the unique BTLE signal assigned to eachmaintenance personnel. The receivers within the washroom facilities areBTLE-enabled receivers that receive and transmit all or a portion of theunique BTLE ID signals to the controller to enable retrieval of the filerelated to the unique BTLE ID signal by the server system. The BTLEbeacon may be incorporated with a device provided to the maintenancepersonnel, such as a component of an employee identification device, anelectronic dongle, and so forth. In a particular embodiment, the BTLEbeacon is incorporated with a mobile smart device carried by themaintenance personnel, the mobile smart device having an applicationthat causes the mobile smart device to transmit the unique BTLE IDsignal and receive personalized messages and instructions from theserver system, such as the pre-shift instructions discussed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram view of a washroom facility incorporating a systemand method in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram view of a washroom facility incorporating analternate system and method in accordance with aspects of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 3 is a component diagram view of certain control features of asystem and method in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to one or more embodiments of theinvention, examples of the invention, examples of which are illustratedin the drawings. Each example and embodiment is provided by way ofexplanation of the invention, and is not meant as a limitation of theinvention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of oneembodiment may be used with another embodiment to yield still a furtherembodiment. It is intended that the invention include these and othermodifications and variations as coming within the scope and spirit ofthe invention.

As mentioned, in one aspect, the present invention relates to a methodand system for maintenance of washroom facilities, particularly wheremaintenance personnel are required to periodically refill consumableproduct dispensers within the facilities, such as paper toweldispensers, soap dispensers, toilet tissue dispensers, and so forth. Themaintenance personnel may be members of a janitorial service that hasresponsibility for upkeep, restocking, and cleanliness of the washroomfacilities on a daily basis, or members of a building support staff, andso forth.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a system and related method 10 areillustrated with respect to a public or semi-private washroom facility12 within a building or business site location. The building may have aplurality of similarly configured facilities 12 on one or multiplefloors.

The design and features of the washroom facility 12 depicted in FIG. 1are for illustrative purposes only. The washroom facility 12 is depictedas a men's restroom facility having one or more individual stalls 18(with individual toilets 16) and one or more urinals 28. A number ofsinks 20 are also provided. Any combination of other conventionalwashroom components may also be provided in the washroom facility 14,such as toilet tissue dispensers 22, soap dispenser 24, towel dispenser26, and so forth. The individual stalls 18, urinals 28, and sinks 20,may be considered as “functional locations” 36 wherein patrons mayperform a desired washroom function within the facility 12. It should beappreciated that any manner of additional functional locations 36 mayalso be included in the washroom facility 12, such as shower stalls,dressing rooms, infant changing stations, and so forth.

FIG. 1 depicts a maintenance personnel 30 in the washroom facility 12.This person has responsibility for ensuring that the various productdispensers 22, 24, 26 are operable and filled, and for the overallcleanliness of the facility 12.

Within each washroom facility 12, the product dispensers 22, 24, 26 areconfigured with a sensor 25 that detects a level or amount condition ofthe product in the dispenser based on any number of operationalprinciples, such as run time of the dispenser or direct measurement ofthe amount of product dispensed. Numerous types of these productdispensers are well known in the industry and a detailed explanationthereof is not necessary for purposes of the present disclosure. Theproduct dispensers 22, 24, 26 are in communication with a monitoringsystem 45 via any manner of suitable wireless communication system (asindicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 1). The monitoring system 45 is acomputer-implemented system that may be remotely located from thewashroom facility 12 or configured within the facility 12. Themonitoring system 45 may monitor a number of similarly-configuredwashroom facilities 12 within a building or business site location. Withthis particular system 10, a controller 44 (described in greater detailbelow) is also in communication with the monitoring system 45 and, thus,can receive information regarding product usage/amount for any one ofthe dispensers 22, 24, 26 located in the washroom facility 12. Themonitoring system 45 may also be in direct communication with a systemserver 46 (also described in greater detail below). Information from themonitor system 45 may be used by the server system to generate the setof instructions and messages delivered to the maintenance personnel 30that are unique to each of the washroom facilities 12 based upon thedetected product level or amount conditions of the dispensers 22, 24, 26in the respective washroom facility 12.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the instructions may be delivered to themaintenance personnel 30 via messages 32 that are automaticallydisplayed or played when the maintenance personnel 30 enters thewashroom facility 12 and is identified. The set of instructions 32 mayvary widely within their scope of content. As mentioned, the set ofinstructions 32 may include instructions as to the amount of productrefill to be added to a particular dispenser. For example, one of theinstructions 32 in FIG. 1 informs the maintenance personnel 30 by name(“John”) that the paper towel dispenser is half full and should not berefilled until his next scheduled visit to the facility 12. Anotherinstruction 32 informs “John” that the soap dispenser is jammed andneeds repair, as well as refilling. The instructions 32 may includereference to complaints or other conditions that were logged orotherwise entered into the server system 46. For example, events oractivities in the building that may affect future washroom usage may beautomatically or manually entered into the server system 46 from anysource, such as from an electronic schedule or calendar maintained bythe building supervisor. An instruction 32 may inform the maintenancepersonnel 30 of such upcoming events that may increase usage of thewashroom facility, as indicated in FIG. 1. The instructions may includedispenser refill instructions based on an anticipated usage of thewashroom before a next scheduled visit by the maintenance personnel 30.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the instructions 32 are delivered to themaintenance personnel 30 via a mobile smart device 35 carried by theperson 30, such as a smart phone, tablet, PDA, or other network-enableddevice (all referred to herein generically as a “mobile smart device”).The instructions 32 may be delivered in the form of text messages,emails, voice messages, or any other format supported by the mobilesmart device 35.

Referring to FIG. 1, to carry out the steps discussed above, thewashroom facility 12 is configured with one or more receivers 38strategically located throughout the facility. Each maintenancepersonnel 30 is provided with an ID signal transmitter 34 that transmitsan ID signal that is unique to the particular person 30 and is receivedby one or more of the receivers 38 depending on the person's locationwithin the facility 12. In this manner, as explained in greater detailbelow, the system 10 (in particular, the server system 46) is able todifferentiate between personnel 30 that enter the facility 12.

The ID signal transmitters 34 carried by the maintenance personnel 30may be small, portable devices that are provided by the janitorialservice, building supervisor, or the like, for example in the form of anattachment to a work badge, bracelet, token, dongle, and so forth. Incertain embodiments, as indicated in FIG. 1, the transmitter 34 may beincorporated with a person's mobile smart device 35, which can run alow-power background application previously downloaded by the personnel30 from a source (e.g. a website) that allows the mobile smart device tofunction as a transmitter at times programmed by the user, for exampleduring normal working hours.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the washroom facility 14includes a receiver 38 positioned above or near the entrance or door 14to the facility 12. At this location, the receiver 38 is used to detectthe maintenance personnel 30 as they enter the facility 12. Respectivereceivers 38 may also located at the various functional locations 36within the washroom facility 12 to initiate messages 12 targeted tolocations or dispensers within the facility 12. For example, if thereceiver 38 located near the sinks 20 detects a maintenance personnelfor a defined period of time, a message 32 may be delivered that relatesspecifically to the status of the soap dispensers 24 or paper toweldispenser 26.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the system 10 includes a controller 44 thatis in wired or wireless communication with the receivers 38 locatedwithin the washroom facility 12. The controller 44 may be located withinthe facility 12, for example within a cabinet or other location, orremote from the facility 12. The controller 44 is in communication withthe central server system 46 via any suitable communications network andincludes any manner of hardware and software configuration to carry outthe functions described herein, such as setting/controlling the variousfunctions of the receivers 38, as well as well as various broadcastdevices 42, 43, as described in greater detail below.

As mentioned, the maintenance personnel's transmitter 34 (which may be amobile smart device 35) will generate and transmit a unique signalreceived by one of the receivers 38 that will identify the particularperson 30 to the server system 46. The receiver 38 transmits all or aportion of the received ID signal to the controller 44, which may tagthe signal with the identity and location of the particular washroomfacility 12 and receiver 38 before transmitting the signal (whichincludes a signal generated from the ID signal) to the central serversystem 46.

The central server system 46 is in communication with the all of thevarious controllers 44 and includes a memory with a respective fileassociated with each of the unique ID signals, wherein the system 46retrieves or opens the stored file associated with the unique ID signalto generate the appropriate instruction messages 32 as a function of theupdated status of the various dispensers 22, 24, 26 in the identifiedwashroom facility 12 relayed by the monitor system 45. The respectivewashroom facility file may include any type of relevant information,such as complaints, comments, or other conditions that were logged orotherwise entered into the server system 46 from any source. The filesmay contain information on events or activities in the building that mayaffect future washroom usage, wherein such information may beautomatically or manually entered into the server system 46 from anysource, such as from an electronic schedule or calendar maintained bythe building supervisor that is automatically imported into the serversystem 46 on a regular basis.

In an embodiment not depicted in the figures, the method and system mayinclude providing to the maintenance personnel 30 a message at abeginning of their work shift regarding expected product refillrequirements of the washroom facilities 12 assigned to the maintenancepersonnel based on current conditions or requirements contained in thewashroom facility files, including historical product usage data. Inthis manner, the maintenance personnel can accurately load their cartwith the required refill products, and need not carry excess product.This type of message can be generated by the server system 46 based onthe information content of the respective washroom files and deliveredto the personnel 30 via any convenient means, such as an email, textmessage, paper notice, and so forth.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 is substantially the same as theembodiment of FIG. 1 with the exception that the instruction messages 32are transmitted to the maintenance personnel via the controller 44 and abroadcast device 42, 43 within the washroom facility 12. For example, abroadcast device 42 in the form of a speaker is provided near the sinks20 and transmits the instruction message 32 relating to the status ofthe soap dispensers 24. Another broadcast device 43 is provided on awall of the facility 12 and is an audio/video (A/V) device that informsthe personnel 30 of upcoming events that may affect washroom usage, aswell as instructions for refilling the dispensers in view of an upcomingevent. This A/V 43 device may be used to display any other type ofinformation to the employee desired by the building administrator. Allof these devices 42, 43 are in communication with the controller 44 viaa wireless communications network, as depicted by dashed lines in FIG.1.

The transmitter devices 34 carried by the maintenance personnel 30 maybe low-power devices having a defined limited transmit range such thatthe personnel 30 must be relatively close to a receiver 38 to bedetected. For example, as the person 30 enters the facility 12, thereceiver 38 above the door 14 will detect the person's transmitterdevice 34, and the person is automatically identified by the serversystem 46 upon entering the facility 12. At this point in time, allinstructional messages 32 may be delivered to the maintenance personnel30 via any combination of the broadcast devices 42, 43.

In an alternate embodiment, however, it may be desired to providefocused instructional messages 32 when the personnel 30 is near aparticular dispenser 22, 24, 26 or functional location 36. For this,other receivers 38 may be strategically located relative to the otherfunctional locations 36 so as only to detect the person 30 at adistance/location that reasonably assures that the person is at theparticular location 36. In addition, with this configuration, a numberof different maintenance personnel 30 may be within the same washroomfacility 12 servicing different ones of the functional locations 36 andindividually detected by system. The focused messages may be deliveredvia the person's mobile smart device 35 (FIG. 1) or, as in theembodiment of FIG. 2, each of the functional locations 36 may beconfigured with a respective broadcast device 42, 43 so that therespective personnel 30 servicing the individual functional location 36can receive a unique instructional message 32 via the broadcast deviceassociated with their functional location. For example, a maintenancepersonnel 30 at one of the sink locations 20 may be detected, while adifferent employee in the stall 18 will be separately detected. Theserver system 46 may generate and transmit a separate instructionalmessage 32 to each of these personnel that are broadcast over differentdevices 42, 43.

As discussed with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the washroomfacilities 12 is equipped with wireless communication capability betweenthe receivers 38 and the transmitters 34 carried by the respectiveemployees 30, wherein an intermittently transmitted data packet (i.e.,unique ID signal) is transmitted and received within a limited range. Inthis regard, the washroom facilities 12 are considered to be“communication-enabled” facilities. It has been found that Bluetooth LowEnergy (BTLE) technology is particularly well-suited for purposes ofsystems 10 in accordance with the present subject matter. For example,the transmitter devices 34 carried by the employees 30 may be BTLEbeacons that transmit the unique ID signal as a BTLE formatted signal,and the receivers 38 are BTLE scanners configured to receive andrecognize the BTLE formatted signal 40.

BTLE beacons are commercially available and are relatively small devicesthat can be disguised as a “trinket” that is worn or carried by thepersonnel 30. For example, the BTLE beacon may be a bracelet (e.g.,similar to a medical alert bracelet), a component of an identificationbadge worn by company employees, a decorative or functional itemattached to a person's belt or clothes, and so forth.

BTLE devices are well-known to those skilled in the art, and a detailedexplanation of their function and operation is not necessary for anunderstanding and appreciation of the present invention. Briefly, BTLEbeacons are a class of low-energy, low-cost radio transmitters that cana receiver running BTLE applications of their presence, which in turnenables the receiver to perform certain actions when in close proximityto the beacon. These devices are often referred to as “iBeacons”, whichis the name Apple chose for its implementation of the BTLE technology.Each BTLE beacon broadcasts a unique identification signal using theBTLE standard format. These unique signals are also known as iBeacon“advertisements.” The BTLE receiver runs an application that enables thedevice to scan for and receive the signals within transmitting range ofthe BTLE beacons. The receiver will automatically “react” to thereceived signal and may start other BTLE-enabled applications forvarious purposes, including communication with a central server, whichin this case is the central server system 46.

A typical use of BTLE technology is relatively precise indoorgeo-location (“micro-location”). A BTLE-enabled application on thereceiver is notified when the BTLE beacon (transmitter 34) moves out ofrange of the receiver, and thus is able to determine distance of thetransmitter 34 (and thus the personnel 30) from the receiver 38. Theexact geo-location of the receiver 38 is known, and thus the exactlocation of the transmitter 34 is calculated based on relative distancefrom the receiver 38 as a function of signal strength. With thislocation information, the server system 46 in communication with thereceivers 38 via the controller 44 can generate a unique instructionalmessages 32 based on location of the personnel 30 within a washroomfacility 12.

In certain embodiments, the BTLE beacon function may be incorporatedwith the personnel's mobile smart device 35, which runs a low-powerbackground application previously downloaded by the employee 30 from asource (e.g. a website) that allows the mobile smart device 35 tofunction as a BTLE beacon that intermittently transmits the unique BTLEsignal during certain times of the day, for example during normalworking hours, or other times programmed by the personnel 30.

It should be appreciated that the present systems and methods are notlimited to BTLE technology. Other transmitter/receiver technologies mayalso be utilized for practice of the invention. For example, Near FieldCommunication (NFC) implementations may be utilized. In anotherembodiment, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology may beused. Other communication technologies are also within the scope andspirit of the invention.

As mentioned, certain embodiments will have multiple washroom facilities12 within a single building or multiple buildings linked to one or morecentral server system 46 and one or more monitoring systems 45, witheach product dispenser and receiver 38 within the multiple of washroomfacilities 12 in communication with the systems 45, 46. In this regard,a communications network is configured for these functions, wherein theindividual dispensers are considered as network-enabled devices that maybe directly connected to the network through a plurality of directnetwork links, thereby eliminating the need for the bus, router, orother networking equipment. It should also be appreciated that each ofthe network enabled devices (or a group of such devices) in thisconfiguration may represent a node that, in turn, may be directlyconnected and/or multiplexed to the network via the direct networklinks. Further, the direct network links may represent securecommunications channels physically hardened against tampering and/or thecommunications may be encrypted to prevent unauthorized access toinformation transmitted thereon.

The central server system 46 (which may be integrated with a monitoringsystem 45) may include a host computer, which may be an integratedserver, or include any manner of periphery server or other hardwarestructure. The central processor system 46 may be a single networkedcomputer, or a series of interconnected computers having access to thenetwork via a gateway or other known networking system. Generally, thecentral server system 46 may include a central controller configured tomanage, execute and control the individual terminal dispenser units, andto interface with the network enabled broadcast devices forretrieval/generation and play of the personalized messages describedherein. The central server may include a memory for storing rewardprogram procedures and routines, a microprocessor (MP) for executing thestored programs, a random access memory (RAM) and an input/output (I/O)bus. These devices may be multiplexed together via a common bus, or mayeach be directly connected via dedicated communications lines, dependingon the needs of the system 10.

The central server system may be directly or indirectly connectedthrough the I/O bus to any manner of peripheral devices such as storagedevices, wireless adaptors, printers, and the like. In addition, adatabase (DB) may be communicatively connected to the central server andprovide a data repository for the storage and correlation of informationgathered from the individual dispenser units, receivers, displaydevices, or nodes of such devices.

It should be appreciated that the network-enabled devices (e.g., theindividual dispenser units and/or display devices) may include similarfeatures or may be configured with functionality to allow for anexchange of information required to function as described herein. Thenetwork-enabled devices may include a number of internal components,such as a controller having a program memory, a microcontroller ormicroprocessor (MP), a random access memory (RAM), and an input/output(I/O) bus, all of which may be interconnected via an address or databus. The server system may include multiple, and even redundant, programmemories and random access memories to increase expandability, capacityand/or processing speed.

The program memory and random access memory may be implemented as asolid-state memory, an integrated circuit, a magnetically readablememory, and/or optically readable memories. Further, the program memorymay be read only memory (ROM) or may be read/write memory such as a harddisk. In the event that a hard disk is used as the program memory, thedata bus may comprise multiple address/data buses, which may be ofdiffering types, and there may be a separate I/O circuit between thedata buses.

Network-enabled devices may be distributed throughout a single businessestablishment and connected with a LAN, or throughout multiple sites andconnected with a WAN. Further, the LAN and/or WAN connecting each of thedevices may include one or more separate and secure buses, routers, webservers, gateways and other networking equipment to provide continuousand/or redundant connectivity to the network.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of certain control aspects of asystem 10 in accordance with the invention. In this particular system10, the server system 46 includes any manner of computer-implementedserver 47. The system 46 includes a library 52 in which the washroomfacility files 54 are stored. Each file 54 is associated with aparticular washroom facility that is also identified in the transmissionof the unique BTLE signal 72 generated by a BTLE beacon 70 from thecontroller 44 to the system server 46. As discussed above, the BTLEbeacons 70 are an embodiment of a transmitter 34 carried by theindividual maintenance personnel 30 that visits a washroom facility 12equipped with the system 10. The unique BTLE signals 72 are received bya BTLE enabled receiver 74 located within the washroom facility 12. Asdiscussed above, a single receiver 74 may be associated with eachwashroom facility 12, or a plurality of different receivers 74 may belocated throughout the facility 12, for example at each of theindividual functional locations 36 within the facility 12.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the BTLE receiver 74 transmits all or aportion of the signals 72 (including a signal generated from the signal72) the to the server system 46 (via a controller 44 in certainembodiments) while also identifying the particular washroom facility 12in which the signals 72 were generated. The server system 46 retrievesthe related files, generates the appropriate instructional messages 32,and transmits the messages for play/display by the devices 42, 43 withinthe washroom facility 12, or via the personnel's mobile smart device 35.

FIG. 3 depicts a number of inputs to the server system 46 that enabledifferent types of instructional and personalized messages 32 to begenerated and broadcast to the personnel 30. For example, one of theinputs labeled “Maintenance Personnel information” may relate topersonalized information for each personnel 30, such as name, jobschedule, facility responsibilities, and so forth. Another input relatesto washroom information, such as special events, historical productusage, cleaning/refill schedules, complaints/comments regardingparticular washrooms, types of dispensers in the washroom, and so forth.One of the outputs depicted in FIG. 2 is labeled “shift message” andrelates to the embodiment discussed above wherein instructional messagesare generated and delivered to the maintenance personnel at thebeginning of a work shift that inform the personnel of the status oftheir washrooms, anticipated amount of product refills, upcoming eventsthat may affect washroom usage, and so forth.

While the present invention has been described in connection withcertain preferred embodiments it is to be understood that the subjectmatter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limitedto those specific embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended for thesubject matter of the invention to include all alternatives,modifications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit andscope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for maintenance of a plurality ofwashroom facilities by maintenance personnel, comprising: one or moreproduct dispensers within each of the washroom facilities that requireperiodic refill of a consumable product; a sensor configured with eachof the product dispensers that detects a product level or amountcondition of the product dispenser, the sensors in communication with amonitoring station assigned to the washroom facility; a server systemconfigured to generate a set of instructions unique to each of thewashroom facilities based upon the detected product level or amountconditions of the dispensers in the respective washroom facility, theset of instructions including instructions as to the amount of productrefill to be added to the dispensers; and an identification (ID) systemconfigured within each washroom facility to identify a maintenancepersonnel that enters the washroom facility and provide the unique setof instructions to the maintenance personnel in a message delivered tothe maintenance personnel.
 2. The system as in claim 1, wherein the IDsystem is configured to deliver the message to a mobile smart devicecarried by the maintenance personnel.
 3. The system as in claim 1,further comprising an audio or visual display device within the washroomfacility, the messages delivered via the audio or visual display device.4. The system as in claim 1, wherein the maintenance personnel isidentified by name in the message.
 5. The system as in claim 1, whereinthe plurality of the washroom facilities are assigned to a commonmonitoring station, the monitoring station in communication with theserver system, and wherein the ID system includes an ID signaltransmitter carried by each of the maintenance personnel that generatesan ID signal that is unique to the maintenance personnel, the washroomfacility configured with a receiver that receives the ID signals fromthe ID signal transmitters and transmits the ID signals to a controllerthat is in communication with the server system.
 6. The system as inclaim 5, wherein the ID signal transmitters comprise Bluetooth LowEnergy (BTLE) beacons that emit a unique BTLE ID signal, the serversystem maintaining a library of the unique BTLE signal assigned to eachmaintenance personnel, the receiver comprising a BTLE-enabled receiverthat receives and transmits all or a portion of the unique BTLE IDsignals to the controller to enable retrieval of the file related to theunique BTLE ID signal by the server system.
 7. The system as in claim 6,wherein the BTLE beacon is incorporated with a device provided to themaintenance personnel.
 8. The system as in claim 6, wherein the BTLEbeacon is incorporated with a mobile smart device carried by themaintenance personnel, the mobile smart device having an applicationthat causes the mobile smart device to transmit the unique BTLE IDsignal.
 9. The system as in claim 8, wherein the message is delivered tothe maintenance personnel via the mobile smart device.
 10. The system asin claim 5, wherein the server system maintains a file on each of thewashroom facilities, wherein conditions or requirements specific to thewashroom facilities are entered into the files and used to generate theunique set of instructions.
 11. The system as in claim 10, wherein theunique set of instructions inform the maintenance personnel of upcomingevents that may increase usage of the washroom facility.
 12. The systemas in claim 10, wherein the unique set of instructions includesdispenser refill instructions based on an anticipated usage of thewashroom before a next scheduled visit by the maintenance personnel.